Some of the city’s toughest aren’t able to read their own prewritten jokes without cracking a smile. By the end, no officer can withstand the power of laughter.

“It’s about humanizing the badge,” police spokesman Lt. Howard Black said. “It’s letting people see we have a good time too.”

The video is meant to encourage more officers to make their career here at the base of Pikes Peak, Black said.

A post on the department’s Facebook page reads, “Come join us at #CSPD where we take our work seriously but also have fun!”

A 62-recruit class already is going through the police academy, and the application period is closed for the March 2018 class.

But, Black said, “We’re constantly seeking recruits.”

With enough applicants, a second academy could be held next year, he said.

The video initially was viewed nearly 13,000 times on the website Vimeo.com after a user found it and shared it before CSPD knew it was out, Black said. The department took the video down briefly before sharing it on its Facebook page about 8 a.m. Friday.

Within the hour, it had generated another 6,000 views, Black said.

It’s not quite at the viral status of other “Bad Joke Telling” videos done by more intense comedians and NFL players, which have received millions of views.